About
"There hasn't been a Mary Ann on the air for I don't know how long. There hasn't been a good girl over 14, and Mary Ann was very much that. The Mary Ann-Ginger issue is always there. You had to be a real man to understand Ginger, and Mary Ann would've gone to the prom with you and been your best friend. A lot of guys would come up to me and say I married a Mary Ann. She had the values."
In her nearly two-hour interview, Dawn Wells (1938-2020) reflects upon her career on the stage and on the big and small screens. Still recognized as the wholesome "Mary Ann Summers" from Gilligan's Island, Wells describes what the show means to her and takes us behind the scenes of several memorable episodes, including "The Matchmaker," in which "Mrs. Howell" attempts to set up "Mary Ann" and "Gilligan." She discusses her experience as a member of the Foreign Press, interviewing celebrities for press junkets, and details her involvement with the Children's Miracle Network Telethon, a cause near and dear to her heart. She speaks about the creation of her clothing line, Wishing Wells, and comments on the question many have now pondered for decades, "Do you prefer Ginger or Mary Ann?" Steven Wishnoff conducted the interview on December 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
On the legendary question of one's preference, "Ginger or Mary Ann?"
On why the Professor and Mary Ann were credited as "the rest" on Gilligan's Island
On the legacy of Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers, as a role model
On how the Coast Guard received telegrams asking them to rescue the people stranded on Gilligan's Island
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences
On being Miss Nevada and on her first television appearance -- on the Miss America pageant; on game shows she was on
On Gilligan's Island
On other TV shows and productions she's done
Chapter 2
On working as part of the Foreign Press and interviewing celebrities
On her clothing line, Wishing Wells; and on the Children's Miracle Network Telethon
On teaching acting; on the Spud Fest Family Film Festival
On the next chapter of her life; on her proudest moment; on her regrets and advice to actors
On colleagues, TV shows and on films she's worked on
On her current projects and how she'd like to be remembered
On setting the record straight about a car accident she was in; on celebrity
Shows
77 Sunset Strip
Dawn Wells on working on 77 Sunset Strip
ALF
Dawn Wells on working on ALF
Baywatch
Dawn Wells on working on Baywatch
Bonanza
Dawn Wells on working on Bonanza
Family Feud
Dawn Wells on the game shows she's been on
Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells on working on Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells on Sherwood Schwartz's composition of the Gilligan's Island theme song
Dawn Wells on how Gilligan's Island changed her life
Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan
Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island: "The Matchmaker"
Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan
Gilligan's Island: "V is for Vitamins"
Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island
Growing Pains
Dawn Wells on guest starring on Growing Pains
Dawn Wells on working on Growing Pains
Hollywood Squares, The
Dawn Wells on being on Hollywood Squares
Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The
Dawn Wells on Bob Denver's "Maynard" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Password
Dawn Wells on the game shows she's been on
Pyramid (2002)
Dawn Wells on playing Pyramid, the Donny Osmond version
Rescue From Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells on the Rescue from Gilligan's Island TV movie
Roseanne
Dawn Wells on working on Roseanne
Survivor
Dawn Wells on if she believes Gilligan's Island had anything to do with the creation of Survivor
Wild Wild West, The
Dawn Wells on working with Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West and doing stage work
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Dawn Wells on proper attire and behavior for the characters on Gilligan's Island according to Standards & Practices
Characters & Catchphrases
Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers
Dawn Wells on the short shorts worn by her Gilligan's Islan d character, Mary Ann Summers
Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers, as a role model
Dawn Wells on the question of one's preference, "Ginger or Mary Ann?"
Dawn Wells on the evolution of Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island
Comedy
Dawn Wells on her favorite episodes of Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan
Criticism of TV
Dawn Wells on her reaction to critics of Gilligan's Island and on the cancellation of the show
Fame and Celebrity
Dawn Wells on her fan mail from Gilligan's Island fame
TV Theme Songs
Dawn Wells on Sherwood Schwartz's composition of the Gilligan's Island theme song
Professions
Actress
Dawn Wells on wanting to be an actress
Dawn Wells on teaching acting; on the Spud Fest Family Film Festival
Genres
Comedy Series
Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island
People
Jim Backus
Dawn Wells on Jim Backus, "Thurston Howell III" on Gilligan's Island
Joey Bishop
Dawn Wells on working with Joey Bishop
Hal Cooper
Dawn Wells on TV director Hal Cooper
Joseph Cotten
Dawn Wells on working with Joseph Cotten
Bob Denver
Dawn Wells on "Gilligan," Bob Denver
Dawn Wells on a typical week working on Gilligan's Island
Richard Donner
Dawn Wells on TV director Dick Donner
Barbara Eden
Dawn Wells on friend Barbara Eden
Tom Hanks
Dan Wells on interviewing Tom Hanks
Russell Johnson
Dawn Wells on Russel Johnson, "Professor Roy Hinkley" on Gilligan's Island
Alan Hale, Jr.
Dawn Wells on Alan Hale, Jr. ,"the Skipper" on Gilligan's Island
Tina Louise
Dawn Wells on Tina Louise, "Ginger" on Gilligan's Island
Ida Lupino
Dawn Wells on Ida Lupino, one of the first female TV directors
Eddie Murphy
Dan Wells on interviewing Eddie Murphy
Dana Plato
Dawn Wells on Dana Plato playing her daughter in the movie Return to Boggy Creek
John Rich
Dawn Wells on TV director John Rich
Roseanne
Dawn Wells on working with Roseanne
Natalie Schafer
Dawn Wells on Natalie Schafer, "Mrs. Lovey Howell" on Gilligan's Island
Dan Wells on Natalie Schafer modeling for Wells' clothing line
Sherwood Schwartz
Dawn Wells on how her credit was changed after the first season of Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz
Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz
Dawn Wells on her friendship with the family of Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz
Phil Silvers
Dawn Wells on Phil Silvers on Gilligan's Island
Adam West
Dawn Wells on working with Adam West